Obedience is Better than Sacrifice

Obedience is better than sacrifice. How many times have you heard this and wondered what it means? Or perhaps you wondered why isn’t sacrifice better than obedience. What I’ve learned is that when you are obedient than you are sacrificing. Sometimes sacrifice itself is actually delayed or abolished when obedience to God is put first. In the book of Genesis, we all know that God promised Abraham in Genesis 15:4 that he would have a son that comes from his own body. God also told Abraham that his descendents would be like the stars in the sky. And so Abraham believed God, and it was accounted onto him as righteousness. It is not our deeds that make us righteous or the fact that you go to church. You can go to church and have ill motives. But blessed is the man whose desire it is to bless the Lord. The man who knows that God is who he says he is, and if God spoke a promise it will come to pass, despite the contradictions of the seasons.

Now we know it took 25 years of waiting and trusting God for Isaac to be born. God will always speak to you about where you are going, not about where you are. In those 25 years, Abraham was obedient to God. At one point we know he became weary and took the advice of his wife sarai who was tired of waiting for God’s promise and decided she would do it herself. So she gave her maidservant Hagar to Abraham and he lay with her and conceived and bore a son named Ishmael.

Now it came to pass, that 25 years after the promise was spoken, Sarah conceived and bore a son named Isaac, which meant laughter. In Gen 21:6 Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me. ⁷And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

The example of obedience and sacrifice that I want to share with you comes in Genesis 22. God decided to test Abraham and told him “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah (places are very important to God). Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” Wow, could you imagine God telling you to sacrifice one of your children. I can guarantee you we would put up a fight. We would probably ask God to repeat himself or ask him if he had lost his mind. Abraham does none of this. The very next morning, he gets up early, saddles his donkey, and takes with him 2 servants, Isaac and enough wood for the burnt offering. He sets out for the place that God told him about, and on the THIRD DAY, he saw the place afar off. On the THIRD DAY, he saw the place where he was to sacrifice his only son. How many of us have been given an assignment from God and we see it from afar off? Wondering if it will ever come to pass. I want to encourage you that he saw this place on the third day of his journey. Christ rose on the third day, so anything that is dead or about to be sacrificed has to rise on the third day. I took courage when I read this because even though the journey appeared to be a death trap, God showed me that it was the third day. That right there, is telling you that Isaac wasn’t going to die. How could he possibly die on a day meant for resurrection?

At this point Abraham says to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” Isaac says three vital things here that we need to examine. First, he told his servants to stay behind. That is because not everyone that is in your life, can go where you’re going. It doesn’t mean that they are not of God, or evil. It could just be that they are not ready to go to the next level of trust with you. The second important thing he says is “we will worship…” Abraham understood that he needed to worship God before the sacrifice. Before you know the end result you are actually going to declare the end of a thing at the beginning. That is essentially what he did. He didn’t let the mountain or the task of sacrificing his son control his faith. He developed an intimate and personal relationship with God through years of faithful stewardship, and although that faith was being tested to the max he still trusted God. “…Then we will come back to you” was proof that Abraham trusted God and he had an expectation of deliverance. He must have said to himself, “It can’t end this way!”

As he and Isaac climbed the mountain, Isaac asked his father… “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” And Abraham replied, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”

When they got to the place where Isaac was to be sacrificed, Abraham prepared the altar, bound Isaac and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. This act of obedience was honored by God and He sent an angel to stop Abraham. I believe that when you live with a spirit of obedience there will be some sacrifices that should have been made that will no longer be necessary. Because, you were righteous, and put the desires of the Father first he will cause you to be exempt from the sacrifice.

“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said, “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” Abraham then looks up and sees a ram caught in the thicket. So he took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering instead of his son. Abraham called the PLACE The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” I highlighted the word PLACE to bring up another point worth noting. When God told Abraham to sacrifice his son, he was specific and said go to the region of Moriah to the place that I tell you of. If Abraham ignored this detail, the outcome could have been very different. You see, we are to go the place where the Lord sends us. He has already made “room” (provision) for you in that place.

Your obedience is needed to get you to the place of ordainment, the place where God has called you to, where all of his benefits await you. Your gifts will flourish and make room for you when you stay in a covenant, intimate relationship with God just as Abraham did. (Genesis 22:17-18) He will then surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.

So in closing obedience is better than sacrifice and in some cases it will abolish the sacrifice. In the case of Christ however, the sacrifice had to take place in order to save humankind. For his obedience, Abraham received abundant blessings. The same will be afforded to us, because the Lord is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11).

Evangelist Nadia Marinaccio

DID YOU CHANGE?

How many of us are so quick to be content where the Lord finds us? Perhaps you were at a job you really didn’t like or involved in a relationship that was not ordained from God. Whatever the situation, we need to look back at our lives and decide if we are the same person we were when Jesus found us. If we are, there is a problem. Christ cannot come wholly into your life and you not change.

Look at the disciples with me. Jesus found them in all different areas of their lives; with different occupations, some with money, some not; some with family and some not. Do you think that when Jesus called Simon (PETER) that Peter would have ever thought of devoting his whole life to God from that point forward? I am sure he was content right where he was. He had a job, payed his taxes, had a wife and family. But he certainly was not living the life God had for him. He was living the life he knew, with no expectation of something greater. Jeremiah 29:11 says that GOD Knows the plans he has for us…not we. Our feeble minds cannot conceive the wondrous works that the Lord desires to do in our heart and our lives. I don’t believe at anytime,  the disciples before they met up with Jesus would have said they wanted to be martyred, lied on, hated, stoned, hung from tree or ostracized. Of course the transition from worldly life into kingdom life was uncomfortable. It was a constant process that didn’t cease until they joined Jesus and the father in the heavenlies. Peter constantly struggled with his anger, and probably never really overcame it, but he was faithful, diligent and obedient. AS a wise Man of God once told me, it’s not about your feelings, it’s about what you know. If you based your life on your feelings, or circumstances your life would be glooming with inconsistencies, and guilt. But when you know who you are in Christ, that he called you, predestinated you, formed you in your mother’s womb and that there is a destiny for your life that is far greater than you; then you have the desire to fight. You fight for what God has shown you, what you know to be true. You fight for your assignment, saying to yourself, “I don’t care what it looks like, how bad it gets, I know what you showed me Lord and I will not stop until I get there.” We are not alone in the fight, we are well-equipped with the armor of God. He has given us according to Ephesians 6:14-17 the truth buckled around our waist, the breastplate of righteousness, are feet which are prepared to deliver the gospel of peace, a shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the WORD OF GOD.

The (dunamis, exusia) power, of the presence of God results in change. When you abide in the vine and you understand that you carry the DNA of your Lord and Savior and it is working on the inside of you, you have to change. Knowing who you are in Christ, is Victory itself. You shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free. If God did not expect a change in you, He would have left you right where you were, to fight the worldly battles yourself. Now that we are in Christ, we still fight battles (kingdom battles, which have greater rewards), but now we conquer them with the word of the Lord, who is able to make all grace abound toward you daily.

You may be saying that you don’t deserve to change, you are so used to living in bondage and you have done some unforgivable things in your lifetime. But the word says that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Amen!!! Before you know you were jacked up from the floor up, he already forgave you, made provision for you, set your path in order, and established blessings along the way. Listen it’s not up to you if God calls you, but it is up to you whether you accept the invitation to praise Him and change your life for Him. The best way you can show God reverence is to heed to his instruction, be obedient, and barack him with reverence and awe. Lay down before Him prostrate, and surrender all. Let him restore you, and build you up in the knowledge of the one who saved you. He desires that you should have life and life more abundantly.  Yes, you will make mistakes, no you won’t be perfect, you will sin from time to time, but guess what??? He already knew you would do it, and he made provision for you before you even knew you would do it.

If you are the same person you were when salvation knocked on the door to your heart, I invite you to examine your life and ask yourself, what is it that is holding  you back from the fullness of God. There is another plan for your life. The life your living is not what he planned for you. Set your heart right before Him. Present yourself to Him as a living sacrifice. Cast all your cares onto him, and allow Him to be God. You know, the gift of salvation is just like any other gift. It comes giftwrapped in a pretty box, with some decorative paper and a bow. But so many of us, only get that far. We just look at the box, and say that’s a pretty box. We never take the time to peel off the paper, strip off the bow, and discover the true gift (the real you) that God has placed inside of you. You have the gift, but you haven’t opened it. I encourage you today to open the gift he has given you. Not only do you discover Your Savior but you also discover the gift in yourself. The hidden treasure in an earthen vessel.

Be Blessed, Stand on the Word, Abide in the Vine, Know your DNA, and Conquer Life with an abundant Spirit.

Shalom, Grace and Peace be Multiplied unto you.

Evangelist Nadia Marinaccio

Women's Health

How often should I get a mammogram?

The National Cancer Institute recommends:

• Women 40 years and older should get a mammogram every 1 to 2 years.
• Women who have had breast cancer or other breast problems or who have a family history of breast cancer might need to start getting mammograms before age 40, or they might need to get them more often. Talk to your doctor about when to start and how often you should have a mammogram.
• Susan G. Komen Foundation recommends clinical breast exams once every three years for women ages 20-39 and then annually after 40 with mammograms. The guidelines may change if you have a family history so be sure to talk to your doctor.

What is a Pap test?

The Pap test, also called a Pap smear, checks for changes in the cells of your cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb) that opens into the vagina (birth canal). The Pap test can tell if you have an infection, abnormal (unhealthy) cervical cells, or cervical cancer.

Why do I need a Pap test?

A Pap test can save your life. It can find the earliest signs of cervical cancer. If caught early, the chance of curing cervical cancer is very high. Pap tests also can find infections and abnormal cervical cells that can turn into cancer cells. Treatment can prevent most cases of cervical cancer from developing. Getting regular Pap tests is the best thing you can do to prevent cervical cancer. In fact, regular Pap tests have led to a major decline in the number of cervical cancer cases and deaths.

Do all women need Pap tests?

It is important for all women to have Pap tests, along with pelvic exams, as part of their routine health care. You need a Pap test if you are 21 years or older.

Women who have gone through menopause (when a woman's periods stop) still need regular Pap tests. Women ages 65 and older can talk to their doctor about stopping after at least 3 normal Pap tests and no abnormal results in the last 10 years.

How often do I need to get a Pap test?

It depends on your age and health history. Talk with your doctor about what is best for you. Most women can follow these guidelines:

• Starting at age 21, have a Pap test every 2 years.
• If you are 30 years old and older and have had 3 normal Pap tests for 3 years in a row, talk to your doctor about spacing out Pap tests to every 3 years.
• If you are over 65 years old, ask your doctor if you can stop having Pap tests.

http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/pap-test.cfm#pap01

Evangelist Nadia, RN

The word "cancer" puts fear and trembling in most humans. But the Bible tells us repeatedly  to "Fear Not!" There are preventative measures and technologies  that can be taken to protect us from this disease, but it will take action and faith on your part. My mother was diagnosed and treated  in 2005 with breast cancer. Subsequently over the last 5 years she refused to go for any mammogram's or follow up's. She repeated "When it's my time, it's my time." What a foolish mindset we have at times. If God has allowed man to discover technologies that can help and cure us, why wouldn't we take advantage of it. It is not in God's will for us that we should suffer and die of Cancer, or worse yet, die from pure ignorance and stubbornness. The fear of her hearing a negative diagnosis again had caused her to be stifled in action. So, she finally went and the radiologist called and struck fear in the hearts of those close to her because they said there were multiple calcifications. So of course, being human in nature you start contemplating the end result in your mind before you even have a definite conclusion. We are taught in the church that God has the final say so!! And how true it is. When a repeated mammogram was done it was found that it was highly unlikely that the cancer had returned. Praise God for being a healer and for being who He is. He says of himself "I AM THAT I AM". What he meant by this is, I am who I say I am. I am a provider, I am a banner/shield, I am a healer, I am a father, I am a comforter, I am a God who will sanctify you from what the world has labeled you! In essence He is, and always will be anything you will ever need. Now that we have a clean bill of health for mom, she is still not out of the clear. She has a responsibility now to go back in 6 months for a follow- up mammogram. I pray that fear will not strike her down again, and that she would hold fast to her faith!  When you aren't sure about something, make sure you educate yourself. Usually once you have a clear understanding of the truth you are less likely to be swayed by fear.

I pray that this newsletter and information has been a blessing to you. Just as the bible says in James 1:22-"We are to be doers of the Word, not just hearers of the Word." So I hope you hear this counsel and take the necessary steps to care for yourself and your loved ones.  If there are any health related topics of interest that you would like further education on, please let me know, I will do my best to get you the answers you are looking for. Please send any requests or comments  to Rehobothnurse@gmail.com

Leading the Community to Spiritual Health and Wellness One Person at a time.

Men's Health for Men of Standard

The following exams are guidelines taken from the Men's Health Network and should be adhered to by all men to prevent diseases.

PHYSICAL EXAM: Review overall

health status, perform a thorough

physical exam and discuss health

related topics. To be done every 3 years for ages 20-39. Every 2 years for ages 40-49 and annually for 50+.

BLOOD PRESSURE: High blood

pressure (Hypertension) has no

symptoms, but can cause permanent

damage to body organs. Blood pressure should be checked annually starting at age 20.

RECTAL EXAM: Screens for

hemorrhoids, lower rectal problems,

colon and prostate cancer. Rectal exams should be checked annually starting at age 20.

PSA BLOOD TEST: Prostate

Specific Antigen is produced by

the prostate. Levels rise when

there is an abnormality such as

an infection, enlargement or cancer.

Testing should be done in collaboration

with your physician. Screening should begin at age 50, however men of African-American descent or those with family history of prostate cancer should begin at age 40. Discuss this with your physician if you are not sure.

HEMOCCULT: Screens the stool for

microscopic amounts of blood that

can be the first indication of

polyps or colon cancer. Should be done annually starting at age 40.

COLORECTAL HEALTH: A flexible

scope examines the rectum, sigmoid

and descending colon for

cancer at its earliest and treatable

stages. It also detects polyps, which

are benign growths that can progress

to cancer if not found early. Should be done every 3-4 years starting at age 50.

CHEST X-RAY: Should be considered

in smokers over the age of

45. The usefulness of this test on a

yearly basis is debatable due to

poor cure rates of lung cancer.

SELF-EXAMS:

Testicle: To find lumps

in their earliest stages.

 Skin: To look

for signs of changing moles, freckles,

or early skin cancer.

Oral: To

look for signs of cancerous lesions

in the mouth.

 Breast: To find abnormal

lumps in their earliest stages.

These should all be done frequently throughout a man's life.

TESTOSTERONE SCREENING:

Low testosterone symptoms

include low sex drive, erectile dysfunction,

fatigue and depression.

Initial screening for symptoms with

a questionnaire followed by a

simple blood test. This would typically begin at age 40, and may be checked annually if symptoms are present.

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

(STDs): Sexually active adults who

consider themselves at risk for STDs

should be screened for syphilis,

chlamydia and other STDs. This should be done as needed and before or after contact with new partners.

Evangelist Nadia, RN

A Man's health and wellbeing is vitally important to his family and to society. Man was the first created human being and he sets the standard for generations to come. If a husband, father, brother, son will stand-up, and set the standard of caring for themselves in all areas of life, such as Spiritually, emotionally, financially, physically, then the generations that come after him will have a standard to follow.  Imagine a young man. He is growing up in poverty, witnessing his father abusing drugs, yelling at his mother, or worse yet hitting his mother. This man also does not have his financial affairs in order and most time there is no food to eat in the house. What kind of a message is this father sending to his family?  He is essentially saying without speaking a word; I don't care about my own body, I don't care whether you have food to eat, and you can treat the women in your life like dirt because that is how I treated your mother. This type of man values nothing! Not himself, his family or God. He has poisoned himself and those around him. Psalm 127:1 says "unless the Lord builds the house, it's laborers labor in vain." I believe it is in our divine nature that we desire leadership in our lives. In our homes, schools, businesses, churches. We all desire to have that stability of life and to know that someone really does care about our welfare. We desire love and understanding. The world is falling apart because of the broken leadership in the world. That leadership should begin in the home, and should subsequently be grafted into society. How far we have come from the book of Genesis when Elohim said "Let us make man in OUR image." We should be carbon copies of our Father in Heaven, instead we are a society running around like chickens with our heads cut off with no direction, looking for the next best thing, the fastest get rich quick scheme, instead of just "seeking" God to make us better. The answer to the life we desire lies in that one word "seeking." There are numerous scriptures that talk about seeking God and God being found!!! Can you imagine FINDING the God of the Universe? The God who stood at the edge of darkness and spoke Life into this world. Are you telling me, we can find this GOD??? That should be enough to get your life in order. We should run and keep running toward God until we find Him in all of His Glory and Majesty. There is none like Him in all the earth, No not one!!! And we have full access to Him when we desire to seek Him?? WOW!!! I just blew my own socks off on that one. I don't know how I got talking about "seeking" when I started off with the importance of Men's health, but God is the ultimate leader and this is where he has led us today. So I pray that the men reading this would seek God for everything in their lives. It is one thing to be healthy, to look good from the outside. But what about the man who wants to be Whole???  I desire clean hands and a pure heart! How about you?

­­_____________________________

I can't say enough about the Men Of Standard at Rehoboth! Beginning with Pastor Vic, who is our Servant Leader, who has truly set a standard. The standard he has set though was not from him, he is following the guidelines set forth by our heavenly father and he is duplicating it. The men I see now at Rehoboth are becoming duplicates of what you see Pastor Vic doing and ultimately Christ, who is the author and finisher of our faith. I see so much growth in every one of you, and I am so proud to be a woman of Faith at this church, knowing that we as women are surrounded by men that have true integrity and a profound love of the Lord. I now know what to look for in a husband (house-band) someday, because he should like the culmination of the men at Rehoboth. I love you all so Much and I am humbled to serve with you. This is my first of many Men's Newsletters and I dedicate this one to each of the:

Pastor Victor Hudson

Minister Chris Shannon

Deacon Paul Richard

Deacon Leon Dozier

Brother Cory Jones

The Anointed Corey Hudson

The Chosen Xzavier Brown